rightfully did he fling about the mighty weapon, that
although Jack struck him almost every blow, the strokes had to be
delivered so quickly that they wanted force to be very effectual.

It was lucky for Jack that the other savages considered the success of
their chief in this encounter to be so certain that they refrained from
interfering. Had they doubted it, they would have probably ended the
matter at once by felling him. But they contented themselves with
awaiting the issue.

The force which the chief expended in wielding his club now began to be
apparent. His movements became slower, his breath hissed through his
clenched teeth, and the surprised savages drew nearer in order to render
assistance. Jack observed this movement. He felt that his fate was
sealed, and resolved to cast his life upon the next blow. The chief's
club was again about to descend on his head. He might have evaded it
easily, but instead of doing so, he suddenly shortened his grasp of his
own club, rushed in under the blow, struck his adversary right between
the eyes with all his force, and fell to the earth, crushed beneath the
senseless body of the chief. A dozen clubs flew high in air, ready to
descend on the head of Jack; but they hesitated a moment, for the
massive body of the chief completely covered him. That moment saved his
life. Ere the savages could tear the chief's body away, seven of their
number fell prostrate beneath the clubs of the prisoners whom Peterkin
and I had set free, and two others fell under our own hand. We could
never have accomplished this had not our enemies been so engrossed with
the fight between Jack and their chief that they had failed to observe
us until we were upon them. They still outnumbered our party by three;
but we were flushed with victory, while they were taken by surprise and
dispirited by the fall of their chief. Moreover, they were awestruck by
the sweeping fury of Jack, who seemed to have lost his senses
altogether, and had no sooner shaken himself free of the chief's body
than he rushed into the midst of them, and in three blows equalised our
numbers. Peterkin and I flew to the rescue, the savages followed us,
and in less than ten minutes the whole of our opponents were knocked
down or made prisoners, bound hand and foot, and extended side by side
upon the seashore.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

INTERCOURSE WITH THE SAVAGES--CANNIBALISM PREVENTED--THE SLAIN ARE
BURIED AND THE SURVIVORS D